The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-03-26
Free Railroad Passes.


railroads themselves certainly do not
so consider the matter. Now what
are the facts and wherein do the
tickets used by editors and journal
lists differ from "free pass?" The
facts are that in every instance, al
most without exception, where Il
railway company issues an editorial
ticket emitting the holder named on
1t to ride over the line, the paper
represented by the holder has al
ready paid, or directly or implicitly
agrees to pay, the full value thereof
in some sort of advertising. Is a
ticket paid for or contracted to be
paid for free ticket? Surely not
and it is Il gross perversion of the
truth and a contemplate SANDER ON
the profession of journalism to so as
sert or assume. The writer has al
ways contended that to call ticket.
whether in the nature of an annual
or atrip or quarterly one issued to
journalist in consideration of adUetis-
ing, a free pass, was an isult alike to
the intelligence of the railway man
ager and the hard working pay-as-
you-go journalist. 1t mattered not
whether that advertising was done
in the display or in the reading col
umns. The courtesy in the relations
between the editor and the railway
official consists in polite and friendly
reciprocity, aninterchange of mutual
benefts-a genteel and accommodate
ing quid pro quo, by which on the
one hand the journalist or publisher
renders certain defined or underlined
services to the railway company, in
the nature of writing and publishing
matter deemed of intrinsic value to
the railway, for which on the other
hand the railway company pays the
journalist in transportation. That's
all there is of it, The publisher or
journalist charges the railway for
his services thus rendered the amount
represented by the transportation he
uses. Could a proposition of inter
change of commodities be more
equitable, more specific ? Is there
anything free on either side of such Il
contract or its execution? Does such
interchange of mutual benefits make
either party medicant occupying
the degrading attitude of accepting
aims ? Surely not
Now what would constitute free
pass? The answer to that question
seems too plain for demonstra-
ton.
A free" pass or ticket would be
one that did not cost the posseesor a
farthing. A legislator or Judge or
private citizen retired from business,
one who rendered no service to the
railway company for which he would
be justified in presenting a bill, if
granted Il ticket by II railway COM
pany upon which the holder travel
ed without payment, would be riding
on free pass. Such Il ticket would
be a gratuity. ltwould have cost moth
ing. 1t would be complimentary"
And it is such tickets, such special
passes" that are prohibited by the
Interstate Commerce bill.
In no SENSE are tickets to news
paper publishers or editors issued in
payment of advertising either free
or complimentary tickets. This
journal has now several contracts in
process of execution wherein it does
Il specified amount of advertising
for railroads at "a specified rate, re-
cciving payment thereof in trans
portation on special tickets. The in
ter-State Commerce bill does not
prohibit such interchange Of bust
ness. it did it would be gross
violation Of the individual right ul
citizens to pursue those paths which
conduce to life, liberty and happi-
ness. If it made such prohibition
the courts would not be slow in de-
claring such law unconstitutional.
For one leading railroad the Chron
icie has published, within the pas
three years, over 1000 lines of read
ing matter, in the nature of adver
Using, for which it is charged thu
usual price, payable under specific
contract in transportation at regular
cash rates. The Interstate Com
merce bill does not prohibit sucl
contract orsuch method of paymen
for space in newspaper. In fac
Section y of that bill inferentially
authorizes such contracts and sucl
peculiar tickets, whether called pas
SEES or by any other name, viz
SEC, y. That nothing in this act
shall apply to the carriage, storage
or handling Of property free or a
reduced rate for the United States
State, or municipal governments, o